CirculatorySystem Science Activity
CirculatorySystem Science Activity
CirculatorySystem Science Activity
Vocabulary: artery, atrium, blood vessel, capillary, circulatory system, heart, heart valves,
platelet, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, red blood cell, urea, ventricle, vein, white blood cell
1. Why do you need blood? We need blood so that our organs can work properly.
Gizmo Warm-up
The Circulatory System Gizmo shows the heart and blood vessels
that make up the circulatory system. Look at the heart.
2. Turn on Show labels. What are the names of the chambers? Right Atrium,
3. Do you see tiny “doors” that open and close as blood is pumped through the heart? ______
These are heart valves. Heart valves control the flow of blood through the heart.
4. Click Heartbeat sound and listen for the two parts of the heartbeat, nicknamed “lub” and
“dub.” Observe the heart. (Note: The recording is not in sync with the heart animation.)
In fact, the “lub” sound is caused by valves from the atria to the ventricles closing, and the
“dub” sound is caused by the valves from the ventricles to the blood vessels closing.
5. Challenge: Why do you think the left atrium and left ventricle are shown on the right side of
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Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A:
Turn off Show labels.
Blood flow
Turn on Show blood flow.
3. Analyze: Click Play. Observe the path of blood that leaves each ventricle.
4. Collect data: Use the syringe to collect a blood sample from the right ventricle (on the left
side of the heart diagram). Look at the Data from blood sample numbers.
5. Collect data: Now collect a blood sample from the left atrium.
6. Draw conclusions: Between the right ventricle and the left atrium, blood goes through the
lungs. Based on the data you have collected, what happens in the lungs?
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Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity B:
Check that Show labels is on.
Blood circulation
Turn on Show blood flow.
1. Observe: Click Play and watch the blood after it leaves the left ventricle. What are some
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2. Compare: The Gizmo shows three types of blood vessels. Arteries carry blood away from
the heart, capillaries are small vessels that carry blood to body cells, and veins carry blood
back to the heart. Locate examples of arteries, veins, and capillaries.
Use the syringe to take blood samples from several different veins and arteries.
C. In which type of blood vessel is oxygen released into body cells? _______________
3. Challenge: The pulmonary arteries carry blood from the right ventricle to the right and left
lungs. The pulmonary veins carry blood from the lungs back to the left atrium. Locate these
blood vessels, and use the syringe to take a blood sample from each.
A. How is the blood in the pulmonary arteries different from blood in other arteries?
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B. How is the blood in the pulmonary veins different from blood in other veins?
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4. Extend your thinking: How is the circulatory system similar to a road-and-highway system?
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Extension: Get the Gizmo ready:
What’s in your Take a blood sample from any blood vessel using
blood? the syringe.
2. Collect data: Blood carries many vital substances. Four of these are listed above the
Microscopic view. Oxygen and sugar are needed by all body cells. Carbon dioxide and
urea are waste products. What are the concentrations of each substance in this sample?
3. Investigate: Take samples of blood from all over the body. Try to determine where sugar
enters the blood, and where it is removed.
B. How can you tell where sugar enters the blood? ____________________________
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4. Investigate: Take blood samples to determine where urea enters the blood and is removed.
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B. Where is urea removed from the blood? ___________________________________
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